Agriculture roundup: Farm Bill website set up

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway has announced the launch of a new online resource which can be accessed through the committee’s current website, agriculture.house.gov/farmbill.

This landing page is designed to provide updates and information related to the 2018 Farm Bill.

“I’m committed to completing a farm bill on time," Conaway said. "We’ve spent the past three years preparing — holding 113 hearings and six listening sessions around the country. We recognize what’s at stake. We’re working on getting the policy right and will use this site as a resource as we advance the next farm bill.”

Youth Hunters Camp Jan. 19-21 for 4-H members

A Youth Hunter Education Camp for 4-H members – from 9 to 15 years – will be held Jan. 19-21 at the Texas 4-H Conference Center on Lake Brownwood, 5600 Farm-to-Market Road 3021.

“In this camp, participants will learn about hunting safety and responsibility as well as hunting laws and ethics,” said Cari Snider, 4-H youth development program coordinator for the center. “Participants will learn about hunting and the hunter’s role in wildlife conservation.”

Registration for the course is online at http://texas4hcenterr.tamu.edu. The cost is $290 per person for youth and adults for registration through Jan. 5. An additional 10 percent late fee will be added for registration from Jan. 6-15, with Jan. 15 being the final registration deadline.

Online handbook for prescribed burns

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – in tune with prescribed burning as a range management tool – has developed an online handbook to aid ranchers.

“The website information (agrilife.org/rxburn) offers a central platform for all practitioners, whether they are in a prescribed burn association, are a private burn manager licensed through the Texas Department of Agriculture or are someone just wanting to learn more about prescribed burning,” Russell said.

For more information, contact Russell at 325-653-4576 or morgan.russell@ag.tamu.edu.

Farm Bureau honors Conaway

U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway of Midland received the Distinguished Service Award from the Texas Farm Bureau during the organization’s annual meeting recently.

The TFB Distinguished Service Award is the most prestigious award the organization bestows upon an individual. Conaway was cited for his outstanding leadership and fierce defense of federal farm programs important to Texas agriculture.

“Mike Conaway has been a true champion for agriculture long before he became chairman of the House Agriculture Committee in 2015,” TFB President Russell Boening said while presenting the award. “He was instrumental in the passage of the 2008 and 2014 farm bills. He worked tirelessly to make certain past farm bills focused largely on strengthening the agricultural economy and providing an adequate safety net for our hardworking farmers and ranchers.”